Former Mayor Nancy Shaver may be one of Historic City News’ best qualified sources of current information and most familiar with the resiliency issues facing St. Johns County.  While in office, she traveled as part of a Florida delegation to the Netherlands to learn first-hand about technological solutions to sea level rise, including resiliency measures for nuisance flooding and storm surge.

Communications and Events Coordinator Melinda Conlon reported to Historic City News that at the City Commission Meeting on Monday, January 4, 2021, the City of St. Augustine Beach elected its Mayor, Vice Mayor and installed two Commissioners.

Historic City News was informed that in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the following County offices will be closed on Monday, January 18, 2021. All offices will resume standard business hours on Tuesday, January 19th, according to County Director of Communications, Michael Ryan.

For the first time in 16-years, Historic City News is pleased to report that today, St Johns County has a new sheriff — many readers commenting that it is about 12-years overdue.

Historic City News was informed today that President Trump has signed into law a bill introduced in the US House by Representative John Rutherford of Jacksonville.  This new law expands access to mental health services for individuals leaving the prison system, providing a “Continuity of Care” for those at risk of recidivism.

Historic City News was informed of a failure by the private telephone company selected by city management in St Augustine to provide phone service.  The failure has resulted in telephone service outages at several City facilities.  The outage is expected to continue until “late evening” on New Year’s Eve.

St Johns County Sheriff’s Patrol Shift Leader, Sergeant Coby Brandon Seckinger, died unexpectedly on Monday evening, December 14, 2020.  He would have turned 43-years-old next month on his birthday, January 14, 1978.

Monday evening at the time and place proscribed by an outdated charter that nobody in City Hall seems willing to move forward for review and revision, 59-year-old Barbara I Blonder, will assume her seat at the City Commission table, together with Mayor Tracy Upchurch and returning Commissioner Roxanne Horvath.  When the ceremony starts at 7:30 p.m., all three commissioners will take their oaths of office. The special meeting will be held in The Alcazar Room of City Hall, located at 75 King Street.